Gravel packing apparatus and method for arranging same in well casings



Sept. 8, 1953 G. F. ABENDROTH ET AL 2,651,369

GRAVEL PACKING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ARRANGING SAME IN WELL CASINGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1952 5 E w W M w v T O 3 42 u 0 4 m m 2 2 M w m\ 2 m w. 5 v w. P ;F m wj f L E I I I] I If 4 N M K W a w 2 Q an a E H PV M 5 ma 6 u m suss F.ABENDROTH,

GILBERT H- TAUSOH.

BY JEREMIAH WARDJZZ;

2,651,369 FOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5.

STEP 3' INVl-WTORS. auss. F- ABENDROTH.

GILBERT H- TAUSCH. BY JEREMIAH WARP, m.

TUS AND METHOD Sept. 8, 1953 G. F. ABENDROTH ETAL GRAVEL PACKING APPARA ARRANGING SAME IN WELL CASINGS Filed Feb. 25, 1952 FIG. 4.

FIG.3.

STE/=2.

ET AL 2,651,369 D METHOD FOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 8

G. F. ABENDROTH GRAVEL PACKING APPARATUS AN ARRANGING SAME. IN WELL CASINGS FIG. 6. FIG. 7

I M L r//V PL! Om 7 AA/ 4 3 0 c 4 2 2 I? Q @RL T VIIll/I/I/l/I/fVf/I/I/ h/f/ III/I II Qo o o o o o o o o o x r1 1 T \Mv 7 O 3 2 C I 4 wk X 7 9 7 an! 3 4 Sept. 8, 1953 Filed Feb. 25, 1952 STEP 6.

INVENTORS. GUSS F. ABENDROTH,

GILBERT H. TAUSCH, BY JEREMIAH WARQHI,

STEP 5.

Sept. 8, 1953 G. F. ABENDROTH ET AL 2,651,369

GRAVEL PACKING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ARRANGING SAME IN WELL CASINGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fild Feb. 25, 1952 'f STEP 9.

FIG-IO.

w 1 w w F'IG.9.

INVENTORS.

'H 0 0 Run BT m 8T4 ARM RM: 5 w 6 Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,651,369 GRAVEL' PACKING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ARRANGING SAME IN WELL CASINGS Guss F. Abendroth and GilbertH. Tausch, Houston, and Jeremiah Ward III, Tyler, '1

ex., as-

signors, by mesne assignments, to Standard Oil Development Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application February 25, 1952, Serial N 0. 273,278

6 Claims.

The present invention is directed to a screen assembly for use in gravel packing operations in a cased well bore traversing a long producing assembly. More particularly, the invention is directed to an improved screen assembly and a method for arranging same in a well casing in a well bore traversing a long producing assembly.

The apparatus of the present invention may be described as involving a plurality of screen sections adapted to be arranged in a cased well bore one upon another, each of the screen sec-' tions having a valve in an upper end thereof adapted to be held in an open position. Each of the plurality of screen section is provided with a releasing means .on an upper end of the screen section adjacent the valve for releasing a screen section from a pipe string to which the screen section is attached. The screen sections have a latching means arrangedon an exterior surface thereof adjacent the upper end and an engaging e means on a lower end of each of the sections other than a lowermost of said sections. A 1'81 trievable wash pipe which defines with an outer surface adjacent its upper end withdrawing -means engageable with an inner surface of a lower end. of said pipe string for withdrawing said wash pipe is arranged sequentially in the lowermost of said sections and thence in a next higher of said sections. The wash pipe holds the valve in an open position when the wash pipe is in a particular section and the valve in each section is adapted to close on withdrawal of the wash pipe therefrom. The latching means on the upper end of each section is adapted to engage with an engaging means on the lower end of a next higher section to connect said sections and to form a continuous internal passageway.

The invention also involves a method for arranging the screen sections in a casing in a borehole traversing a long roducing interval and.

includes the steps of perforating the casing at a lower point therein in the producing interval. A first cavity is washed out in the producing interval adjacent the perforations following which gravel is deposited in the casing and in the cavity to fill substantially completely the cavity and to' provide a bed of gravel in the casing to a point above the cavity. Thereafter a tubing string is lowered in the casing to which is attached'a first screen section. The screen section has arranged therein a retrievable wash pipe. The tubing string carrying the screen section is then washed down through the gravel in the casing until a lower screen section is washed down opposite the perforations in the casing. The tubin string is then released from the first screen section and the wash pipe withdrawn from the first screen section. The casing is then perforated above the first perforation and a second cavity is washed out in the producing interval adjacent the second perforations. Gravel is deposited in the casing and in the secondcavityto fill substantially said second cavity and to provide a bed of gravel in the casing above the first screen section. The

tubing string having a second screen section attached thereto in which the wash pipe is arranged is then lowered in the casing and the second screen section is washed downwardly through the gravel until a lower end of said second screen section engages with the upper end of the first screen section. The tubing string is then released from the second screen section and the wash pipe is withdrawn from the second screen section. The sequence of operations is repeated until a desired number of screen sections'have been arranged in the casing one upon another. An internal passageway is then established through the screen sections and thereafter the well may be produced. During the time the screen sections are in the bed of gravel in the well casing, the screen sections are maintained substantially free of gravel.

The present invention will be further described by reference to the drawing in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a lower screen section of a plurality of screen sections Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View of screen sections adapted to be engaged with the screen section of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3 through 11 are illustrations of the sequence of operations in which the screen sections. are arranged in a cased well bore.

' Referring now to the drawing, numeral -51 designates a first screen section which is provided with centralizers or stabilizers I2. The screen section H terminates at its lower end in a back pressure valve [3. At an upper end of the screen section is a valve, such as a clapper-type valve I4 M, which. is pivotally connected at points F5 to the upper end of the screen section. Arranged in the screen section I is a retrievable wash pipe I8 which defines with an upper outer surface a shoulder I1 and which is provided with a sealing means, such as a rubber seal I8. As shown, the wash pipe I holds the clapper-type valve I4 in an open position. At an upper end of the screen section II is a releasing means I9 which serves to connect to and release the screen section II from a lower end of a pipe string 20. The pipe string 20 is shown as being increased in size from the portion 2I but it is to be understood that the pipe string 20 may be of uniform size, if desired. Below the releasing means I9 on the outer surface of the screen section I are latching means 22, such as dogs. The pipe string 20 is provided with a member or engaging means 23 which is adapted to engage with the shoulder I1 to allow the wash pipe I6 to be withdrawn when the pipe string 20 is released from the screen I I and pulled upwardly in the casing.

Referring now to Fig. 2 inwhichidentical numerals will be employed to designate identical parts to those of Fig. 1, numeral 3|! designates a second screen section provided with stabilizers or centralizing means I2 in which is arranged wash pipe I6. Thesecond screen section 30 is attached to pipe string 20 by releasing means I9 as has been described with respect to Fig. 1.

. The second screen section 30 is also provided with clapper-type valves I4 which are held in an open position by wash pipe I6 when it is in second screen section 30. Like screen section I I, screen section 30 is provided with dogs 22. Screen section 30 has an expanding sleeve 3| on a lower end thereof which is adapted to engage with the upper end of screen section II. The expanding sleeve fits over the upper end of screen section II and engages with dogs 22. Arranged in the screen section 30 is a ring 32 defining recesses 33 in which is arranged an O-ring 34. O-rlng 34 allows a tight seal to be made between the wash pipe I6 and the lower end of screen section 30 and between the pipe I6 and lower end of screen section 30.

Referring now to Figs. 3 through 11, a stepwise description of the mode of using the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 will be given. In step 1 of Fig. 3 a well bore 39 in the earths surface has penetrated a desirable producing interval 40.

' This producing interval 40 contains areas A, B,

and C from which it is desired to obtain production. A casing 4| has been landed in the well bore 39 and perforated in area A to provide perforations 42. A cavity 43 has been washed out in the area A and gravel deposited in'the cavity 43 to fill it substantially completely and to provide a bedof gravel 44 extending above the cavity 43. The tubing string 2Dhaving attached thereto a screen section I I is lowered into the casing 4| and washed downwardly through the gravel '44 by circulating salt water and the like downwardly through wash pipe I6 and outwardly through back pressure valve I3. The salt water proceeds up the annulus 50 between the pipe string and the casing, and thence to the well head. After the screen section II has been landed the pipe string 20 is disconnected by backing off to the right and the pipe string and the wash pipe pulled from the casing. As the wash pipe is pulled from the screen section II, the clapper-type valve I4 closes, preventing entry of gravel and leaving the screen section II arranged in the casing as shown in step 3, the foregoing operations being illustrated by steps 1 and 2. Gravel is deposited to a height in the casing 4| to cover the screen section I and extend to about a foot above the clapper-type valve I4. Thereafter, as illustrated in step 4, the casing 4| is perforated at a point above the first cavity to form perforations 5 I. This can be accomplished by lowering a gun perforator in the casing 4| and shooting as is well known. The area B is then washed out employing a suitable washing tool to form a cavity 52 which is substantially completely filled with gravel, as shown in step 4, by depositing gravel in the casing 4| and washing gravel outwardly into the cavity 52; thus a bed of gravel is formed in the casing 4| that extends upwardly in the casing 4| to a point at least as high as the second cavity 52, salt water being used to wash the second screen section downwardly. The second screen is washed downwardly in the casing 4| until the expanding sleeve 3| engages with dogs 22 on the upper end of screen section I I. The pipe string 20 is then rotated to the right to release the second screen section 30 at releasing means I9. This causes wash pipe I! to be pulled from the screen section 30 and causes the clapper-type valves I4 in screen section 30 to close. These operations are shown in steps 5 and 6 of Figs. 7 and 8.

Thereafter the casing 4| is perforated at a third point therein above the perforations 5| by lowering a gun perforator or the like and shooting to form perforations 60. A cavity BI is then formed by washing out the area C employing a wash tool of a suitable nature. Gravel is deposited in the casing 4| to fill substantially completely the cavity BI and to extend the height of the bed 44 to a point at least as high as the upper point of cavity 6|. It will be noted that the clapper-type valve I4 in screen section 30 is closed thereby preventing gravel from falling into the screen section 30.

The pipe string 20 to which is attached a third screen section which is similar to screen section 30 and which may be designated by the numeral 30 is lowered into the casing 4| and the screen section 30 is washed downwardly through the gravel bed 44 by circulating salt water or the like downwardly through Wash pipe IS. The screen section 30' is washed downwardly until the expanding sleeve 3| engages with the dogs 22 of screen section 35. The pipe string 20 is then backed off to the right and the screen section 30 released therefrom, the wash pipe I6 being withdrawn as the pipe string 20 is raised. On withdrawal of wash pipe I6 the clapper-type valve I4 of screen section 30' closes preventing gravel from falling into the screen section. Gravel may then be deposited in the casing 4| to extend the bed 44 to a point above the clapper I4 of screen section 30'. The sequence of operations may be continued, if desired, to arrange any number of screen sections one upon the other, as has been described. When it is desired to produce from the formations of sections A, B, and C, the clapper valves I4 in the several screen sections may be drilled or milled out to establish a continuous internal passageway. Rather than drilling or milling out the valves I4, it may be desirable to construct the clapper-type valve I4 of a corrodible metal, such as aluminum and allow them to be corroded out by electrolytic action. In any event, a continuous internal passageway is provided by removing the clapper-type valves.

From the foregoing description taken with the drawing it'will be seen that long producing intervals may have screen sections arranged therein. It is also possible to perforate at selected points in a casing and arrange screen sections therein.

Our invention eliminates the problem of arran ing screen sections in long producing intervals which, insomefields, may be as much as 1000 feet vertically. Where sand production is a problem it is difiicult to arrange screen sections in a perforated casing other than by the practice of. the present invention. v

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what We wish to claim as new and useful and to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A screen assembly for use in long producing intervals which comprises, in combination, a plurality of screen sections adapted to be arranged in a cased well bore one upon another each having a valve in the upper end thereof normally urged into a closed position, releasable connecting means on each of said sections adjacent the valve for connecting to and releasing a section from a pipe string, latching means on the exterior surface of each section adjacent the upper end, engaging means on the lower end of each of said sections other than the lowermost of said sections, and a retrievable wash pipe carried by the lower end of said pipe string slidably arranged in the section connected to the pipe string holding the valve in said section in an open position, said engaging means and latching means being engageable with each other to connect said sections and form a continuous internal passageway.

2. A screen assembly for use in long producing intervals which comprises, in combination, a plurality of screen sections adapted to be arranged in a cased well bore one upon another each having a valve in the upper end thereof normally urged into a closed position, releasable connecting means on each of said sections adjacent the valve for connecting to and releasing a section from a pipe string, latching means on the exterior surface of each section adjacent the upper end, expanding sleeves on the lower end of each of said sections other than the lowermost of said sections, and a retrievable wash pipe carried by the lower end of said pipe string slidably arranged in the section connected to the pipe string holding the valve in said section in an open position, said Wash pipe being provided with a shoulder adjacent its upper end engageable with the inner surface of the lower end of said pipe string for withdrawing said wash pipe, said expanding sleeves and latching means being engageable with each other to connect said sections and form a continuous internal passageway.

3. A screen assembly for use in long producing intervals which comprises, in combination, a plurality of screen sections adapted to be arranged in a cased well bore one upon another each having a valve in the upper end thereof normally urged into a closed position, releasable connecting means on each of said sections adjacent the valve for connecting to and releasing a section from a pipe string, latching means on the exterior surface of each section adjacent the upper end, expanding sleeves on the lower end of each of said sections other than the lowermost of said sections, a retrievable wash pipe carried by the lower end of said pipe string slidably arranged in the section connected to the pipe string holding the valve in said section in an open position provided with a shoulder adjacent its upper end engageable with an inner surface of the lower end of said pipe string for withdrawing said wash pipe, said expanding sleeves 6 and latching means being engageable with each other to connect said sections "and form a con ti-nuous internal passageway, and a back pressure valve on a lower end of the lowermost of said sections.

4. A screen assembly for use in long producing intervals which comprises, in combination, a plurality of screen sections adapted to be arranged in a cased well bore one upon another each having a clapper-type valve in the upper end thereof normally urged into a closed position, pipe threads on each of said sections below said clapper-type valve for connecting to and releasing a section from a pipe string, latching dogs on the exterior surface of each section adjacent the upper end, an expanding sleeve on the lower end of each of said sections other than the lowermost of said sections, and a retrievable wash pipe carried by the lower end of said pipe string slidably arranged in the section connected to the pipe string holding the valve in said section in an open position provided with a shoulder adjacent its upper end means engageable with the inner surface of the lower end of said pipe string for withdrawing said wash pipe, said expanding sleeve and latching dogs being engageable with each other to connect said sections and form a continuous internal passageway.

5. A screen assembly for use in long producing intervals which comprises, in combination, a plurality of screen sections adapted to be arranged in a cased well bore one upon another each having a clapper-type valve in the upper end thereof normally urged into a closed position, pipe threads on each of said sections below said clapper-type valve for connecting to and releasing a section from a pipe string, latching dogs on the exterior surface of each section adjacent the upper end, an expanding sleeve on the lower end of each of said sections other than the lowermost of said sections, a retrievable Wash pipe carried by the lower end of said pipe string slidably arranged in the section connected to the pipe string holding the valve in said section in an open position provided at its upper end with a shoulder adapted to engage with the lower end of said pipe string for withdrawing said wash pipe, said expanding sleeve and latching dogs being engageable with each other to connect said sections and form a continuous internal passageway, and a back pressure valve on a lower end of a lowermost of said sections.

6. In a method for arranging a plurality of screen sections in a casing in a borehole traversing a long producing interval in which the casing has been perforated at a lower point therein and a first cavity formed in said producing interval adjacent the perforations in said casing and said first cavity substantially completely filled with gravel and a bed of gravel formed in said casing to a point above said cavity, the steps of lowering a tubing string in said casing having a first screen section attached thereto at a lower end in which is arranged a retrievable wash pipe, washing said first screen section downwardly through the gravel in said casing, releasing said tubing string from said first screen section and withdrawing the wash'pipe from said first screen section, perforating said casing at a point above the first perforations, washing out a second cavity in said producing interval adjacent said second perforations, depositing gravel in said casing and in said second cavity to fill substantially said second cavity, and to provide a bed of gravel in said casing above the first screen section, lower- 7 ing the tubing string in said casing having a second screen'section attached thereto at a lower end in which is arranged the retrievabie wash pipe, washing the second screen section downwardly through the gravel in said casing until a lower end of said second screen section engages with an upper end of said first screen section, releasing said tubing string from said second screen section and withdrawing the wash pipe from said second screen section, and repeating the sequence'of operations until a desired number of screen sections have been arranged in the casing one upon another.

GUSS F. ABENDROTH. GILBERT H. TAUSCH. JEREMIAH WARD III.

References Cited in the file of this patent 5 Number UNITED STATES PATENTS 

